Not only have all the patients survived, according to
Pluristem, but four of them showed improvement in respiratory parameters.
Six critically ill coronavirus patients in
Israel who are considered high-risk for mortality have been treated with
Pluristem’s placenta-based cell-therapy product and survived, according to
preliminary data provided by the Haifa-based company.
The patients were treated at three different Israeli medical
centers for one week under the country’s compassionate use program and were
suffering from acute respiratory failure and inflammatory complications
associated with COVID-19. Four of the patients also demonstrated failure of
other organ systems, including cardiovascular and kidney failure.
Not only have all the patients survived, according to
Pluristem, but four of them showed improvement in respiratory parameters and
three of them are in the advanced stages of weaning from ventilators. Moreover,
two of the patients with preexisting medical conditions are showing clinical
recovery in addition to the respiratory improvement.
“We are pleased with this initial outcome of the
compassionate use program and committed to harnessing PLX cells for the benefit
of patients and healthcare systems,” said Pluristem CEO and president. “Pluristem is dedicated to using its competitive advantages in
large-scale manufacturing to potentially deliver PLX cells to a large number of
patients in significant need.”
Pluristem’s PLX cells are “allogeneic mesenchymal-like cells
that have immunomodulatory properties,” meaning they induce the immune system’s
natural regulatory T cells and M2 macrophages, the company explained in a
previous release. The result could be the reversal of dangerous overactivation
of the immune system. This would likely reduce the fatal symptoms of pneumonia
and pneumonitis (general inflammation of lung tissue).
Previous preclinical findings regarding PLX cells revealed
significant therapeutic effects in animal studies of pulmonary hypertension,
lung fibrosis, acute kidney injury and gastrointestinal injury.
Pluristem plans to apply for initiation of a multinational
clinical trial for the treatment of complications associated with coronavirus,
the release said, noting that it will no longer report on its compassionate use
trials but rather on the status and progress of its contemplated clinical
trial.
The company is already in discussions with regulators in
the United
States and Europe to “define our clinical strategy for COVID-19,”
Pluristem CEO added.
